Switch for carrier systems.



No. 768,239. PATENTES AUG. 23, 1904. M. G.RIGHASDS.

SWITCH FOR 'CARRIER SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2, 1903.` I N0 MODEL. l 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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M..C. RICHARDS. l

SWITCH POR CARRIER SYSTEMS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 2, 190s.

No MODEL. f zfsHEBTS-SHBET z.

i, UNITED STATES Patented August 28, 1904.

PATnixiT OFFICE.

MARCIUS O. RICHARDS, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS.

SWITCH FOR CARRIER SYSTEMS- SPECIFICATION forming part o f LettersPatent No. 768,239, dated `August '23, 1904. Application iledMarch 2,1903. Serial No. 145,772. (No model.) i

l To @ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, MA'RorUs O. RICHARDS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Aurora,-in the county of Kane and State .of

Illinois, have invented certain new and useful or trams radiating fromsaid switch and which avoids the necessity of subjecting the pivot-` ingdevices of the switch to the great strain to which the weight of thevehicle on it would subject it and likewise the arduous task of turningthe switch when so laden. This I accomplish by the means hereinafterfully described andas particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 isa plan view of a portion of an overheadcarrier system having my improvements applied thereto. Fig.

' 2 is-a longitudinal vertical section taken on dotted line 2 2, Fig. 1,looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.l Fig. 3 is atransverse vertical section taken on dotted line 3 3, Fig. 1, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows and drawn to a larger scale, Fig.4 is a vertical section of the larger switch shown taken onl the :planeof the straight track extending diamctrically across the face of thesame.

In the drawings, A represents the ceilingsA of the building or room towhich the trams or tracks B, O, D, E, and F of the overhead carriersystem, to which preferably my invention is applied, are suitablysecured. These trams may beof any suitable construction;

lbut for the convenience of description vI employ a simple formconsisting of a flat bar of suitable width, which is suspended from saidceiling or other superstructure by means of hanger-bolts' c, located atsuitable intervals apart, .the lower headed ends of which pass throughthe center of width of said'bars.

Track B may be considered as the main track .of the system and extendslongitudinally and centrally the entire length of the portion of theceiling A shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and C represents a track,located nearthe lefthand end of said ceiling `arranged at right anglesto track B, and D represents .a crosstrack, also intersecting track B atrigh-t angles, 'which is located nearer the right-hand end of saidceiling. Tracks E and F are straight tracks arranged in a radial planeto the intersection of tracks D and B and atan angle yof 'forty-dvedegrees to the same and at about ninety degrees to each other.

At the intersection of tracks B and O, I pivot in any suitable manner aplate or frame G, which is preferably of a circular form and hassuspended from it a straight diametrically extending track c and acurved track c', conforming in curvature to a quarter of a circle and solocated that when plate or frame Gr is inthe position shown in Fig. 1 acontinuous track Vis formed for the carrier H to .travel when switchingfrom the portion of main track B extending to the right of plate orframe G to track C. The tracks@ and c are'constructed in .the samemanner as tracks B and O and are suspended from the plate Gr byhangerbolts .fn m, similar to bolts c except shorter in length, thisbeing necessary in order yto bring the tread of said tracks all on thesame hori- Zontal plane.

The carrier I-I referred to may be of any suitable construction,although in the drawings itis shown to comprise a truck made of twoU-shaped frames connected at their centers of length by a horizontalreach from ywhich the carrying devices depend. The wheels yof thiscarrier are journaled in theends of the ,U-frames and travel upon theupper longitudinal marginal surfaces of tracks. This construction,however, may be departed from according to the changed construction ofthe track or because of other considerations.

In order to turn plate Gr, an ordinary rope or cable m may be attachedthereto and depend therefrom. I prefer, however, to connect said rope tothe horizontal arm 2 of an y inverted-I -shaped lever, which isfulcrumed or branches of a suitable hanger 4.

at its angle to suitable lugs depending" from l said plate and which hasthe lower end of the verticalarm thereof weighted. The advantages ofthis construction are that when the switch-plate has been moved intoposition and the hold on the rope or cable is released the weighted armor the lever will restore the latter to its normal position, as shown inFig. 3, and raise the dangling end of said rope up out of the way. Whenthe switch-plate has been moved to the desired position, either by meansof the rope m or in any other manner, it is desirable to lock it in suchposition quickly and easily. This I accomplish by providing the edges ofsaid switch-plate or frame with aseries of suitably-located notches orrecesses f/ when said plate is circular and engaging these recesses bythe end of a shorter branch of a lever 3, which latter extends in aplane radial to the center of plate G and is fulcrumed mediate its endsbetween the legs T ie longer arm of this lever farthest from plate G isweighted, and the gravity of this arm keeps the extremity of the shorterarm normally bearing upward against the notched edge of said plate, sothat when in the same vertical plane it will automatically engage thesame and hold said plate stationary. This lever is disengaged from plateG by means of a cord or rope 5, depending downward from the shorter armthereof to within easy reach of the operator. In order to avoid awkwardmanipulation and the necessity of two men, one to hold lever 3 down andthe other to turn plate G, I have extended the legs of hanger 4 downbelow the fulcrum of lever 3 and provided the same with parallel arms 66 and 7 7, which extend in the same vertical plane as the lever 3. A rod8, with a nut 9 on it, is secured to and in its natural position,depends down from the shorter arm of said lever 3 between arms 6 6, andin this position, which permits the extremity of the shorter arm of thelever 3 to enter the notches of plate G, the nut will catch under thelower edges of arms 6 6 and prevent said shorter arm from moving upwardtoo far. Vhen it is desired to move the lever so that its shorter armwill not engage plate G, the rod 8 is moved so that the nut 9 will catchunder the` lower edges of arms 7 7 of the hanger, substantially asshown.

At the point of intersection of tracks B, D, E, and F, I pivot aswitch-plate K, which is similar in principle and construction to plateG and may be moved or turned and retained in its adjusted position bythe same or any other means desired. In order to prevent this platewabbling, I prefer to secure to the ceiling just above said plate K abearing-plate K, up through which the pivotal bolt if: extends.Switch-plate K has a diametricallyextending straight track which can beused to connect any two alining sections of track,

and on one side of this track 7) has three curved sections ofswitch-track d, f, and which are respectively of such curvature that thetrack d of the shortest. radius can he used to connect straightconverging tracks l and F, or F and Vl), orI) and E, &c., arranged at auangle of but forty-tive degrees to each other.

The switch-track c of next greatest radius is designed to connect saidconve ging tracks arranged at an angle of ninety degrees to each other`and the next track 1^' (having the greatest radius) is designed toconnect tracks arranged at an angle of one hundred and thirtyfivedegrees to each other. \\"ith these four switch-tracks I), d, c, and 7"switch-plate l( can be used to connect any two of either eight orsixteen converging tracks. ln the latter event the additional eighttracks would he arranged and converge toward the center ol' plate K, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. l.

` What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted platehaving notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspendedtherefrom and extendingdiametric.- ally across the same` a curved tracksuspended from said plate and means engaging the notches in said platefor locking the said plate in any operative position to which it may headjusted.

2. A switch for an Overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted platehaving notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspendedtherefrom and extending d iametrically across the same, a curved tracksuspended from said plate and automatic means engaging the notches insaid plate for locking said plate. in any operative position to which itmay be rotated.

3. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted platehaving notches inthe circumference thereof, a straight track suspendedtherefrom and exteudingdiametrically across the same, a curved tracksuspended from said plate and gravity-oiierated automatic means engagingthe notches in said plate for locking said plate in any operativeposition to which it may he rotated.

4. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted platehaving notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspendedtherefrom and extend i ng d iametrieally across the same, a curved tracksuspended from said plate alongside said straight track, and meansengaging the notches in said plate for locking said plate in anyoperative position to which it may be adjusted.

A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted platehaving notchesl in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspendedtherefrom and extending' d iametrically across the same, a curved tracksuspended from said plate alongside said straight track, and automaticmeans engagingI the IIO ISO

notches in said plate for locking said plate `in I suspended therefromand extending diametrically across the same, a curved track suspendedfrom said plate alongside said straight track, and gravity-operatedautomatic means engaging the notches in said plate for locking saidplate in any operative position towhich it may be rotated.

7 A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted platehaving notches in the circumference thereof, a straight vtrack suspendedtherefrom and extending diametrically across the same, a curved tracksuspended from said plate located at one side of and conforming toaportion of a circle struck from a point intersected by a plane atfrightangles to said straight track and touching the center of length thereof,and means engaging the notches in said plate for locking the said platein any operative position to which it may be adjusted.

8. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted platehaving notches in the circumference thereof, a straighttrack suspendedtherefrom, and extending diametrically across the same, a curved tracksuspend' ed from said plate located at one side of and conforming to aportion of a circle struck from a point intersected by a plane at rightangles to said straight track and touching the center of length thereof,and automatic means engaging the notches in said plate for locking saidplate in any operative position to which it may be rotated.

9. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted platehaving notches-in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspendedtherefrom and extending diametrically across the same, a curved tracksuspended from said plate located at one side of and conforming to aportion of a circle struck from a point intersected by a plane at rightangles to saidv straight track and touching the center of lengththereof, and gravity-operated automatic means engaging the notches insaid plate for locking said plate in any operative position to which itmay loe rotated.

10. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted platehaving notches'in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspendedtherefrom and extending diametrically across the saine, a series ofcurved tracks suspended from said plate, and means engaging the notchesin said plate vfor'locking said plate in any operative position to whichit may be adjusted.

11. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted platehaving notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspendedtherefrom and extending diametrically across the same, a series ofcurved `tracks suspended from said plate, and automatic means engagingthe notches in said plate for locking said plate in any operativeposition to vwhich it may be rotated.

12; A `switch for an overhead carrier system comprisinga pivoted platehaving notches in the circumference thereof, astraight track suspendedtherefrom andextending diametrically-across the same, a series ofcurvedtracks suspended from said plate, and gravity-operatedautomaticmeans engaging the notches in said plate for locking said platein any operative position to which it may be rotated.

13. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising apivoted platehavingnotches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspendedtherefrom and extending diametrically across the same, a series ofcurved tracks of different radii suspended from said platealongside'said straight track, and means engaging the notches in` saidplate for locking the said plate in any operative position to which itmay be'adjusted.

111. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising-a pivoted platehaving notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspendedtherefrom and extending diametricof different radii suspended from saidplate i ally acrossthe same; a series of curved tracks alongsidesaidstraight'track, and automatic means engaging the notches in said platefor locking said plate in any operative position to which it may berotated.

15.- A switch for an overhead carrier system vcomprising a'pivoted platehaving notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspendedtherefrom and extending diametrically across the same, a series ofcurved tracks of different radii Vsuspended from said plate alongsidesaid straight track, and :gravity-operated automatic means engaging thenotches in said plate for locking said plate in any operativeV positionto lwhich it may be rotated.

16. A switch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted'platehaving notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspen dedtherefrom and extending diametrically across the same, a series ofcurved tracks of different radii suspended from said plate along oneside of said straight-track, each of which conform to a portionA of acircle struck from a point Y intersected by a plane at right angles tosaid straight track and touching the center of length of the same, andmeans en- IOO IIO

gaging the notches in said plate for locking the said plate in' anyoperative position to which it may be adjusted.

17. As'witch for an overhead carrier system comprising `a pivoted platehaving notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspendedtherefrom and extending diametricallyA-acros'sthe same, aseries ofcurved tracks of dierent radii suspended from said plate along one sideof said straight track, each of which conform to a portion of a circlestruck from a point intersected by a plane at right angles to saiclstraight track and touching the center of length of the same, andautomatic means engaging' the notches in said plate for locking saidplate in any operative position to which it may be rotated.

18. Aswitch for an overhead carrier system comprising a pivoted platehaving notches in the circumference thereof, a straight track suspendedtherefrom and extending diametrieally across the same, a series ofcurved tracks of different radii suspended from said plate along oneside of said straight track, cach of which contorni to a portion of acircle .struck from a point intcrscctml by a plan at right angles tosaid straight track an l touching' thcI center of length oi the salue,and gravitvwperatcd automatic means engaging' thc notches in said platefor lockingr said plate in any operative position to which it lnay herotated.

1n testimonyv whcreol" l have hereunto set my hand this 19th (lay ol5l1`ehrnary, 1903.

MARC/IUS C. R I C l I Ahi ).S.

\Vit11csses:

Louis F. Munnnn E. K. LUNDY.

